Simple LM335 Thermometer using microcontroller

Not too many parts. When a voltmeter is connected across the outside terminals of the output connector, its display reads out in degrees C.

I’ve been fascinated by the LM335 for some time -maybe my obsession with stability finally gave way to my fascination with a circuit with intentional thermal drift. I finally bought some the other day, and to check one out, I hooked it up as a thermometer, based the National Semiconductor application note.

The +5V on the “input” connector is as a convenience in case I want to power the circuit from +5V someday, or use the +5V as an output to drive a meter or microcontroller.

The circuit consists of two parts: The LM335 and its adjustment. The output of the LM335 is 10 millivolts per degree C, with 25 degrees C corresponding to 2.982 VDC. A reference circuit provides a zero reference voltage. It is adjusted to (2.982 volts – (25 degrees x 10 millivolts/degree) = 2.832 volts. To read the temperature of the LM335 directly in degrees C, connect the + lead from a high impedance DVM to the output pin and the – end of the DVM to the 2.732 volt pin.

The factor of 10 millivolts per degree C is equivalent to 10 millivolts per degree K, since a change of one degree C is equal to a change of one degree K. The difference in the two scales is only their offsets. The melting point of water ice is 0 degrees C and 273.15 degrees K. The boiling point of water is 100 degress C and 373.15 degrees K.